Category: News Commentary

Reading the news online is sometimes an exercise in dismay at the level of idiocracy that masquerades as ‘thoughtful commentary’ these days. It’s the biggest argument I have for returning to actual books. You can read something without pages of ridiculous comments following it.

There are, however, a few people out there that occasionally make a comment that is actually rather astute. This is one such comment.

I don’t know who made it. I don’t know what article it came from… but it really struck a chord with me and so I’m going to share it with you.

Re-typed to correct some grammar (because I otherwise couldn’t have put it any better):

First, I’m not a liberal or a conservative; but you religious right-wingers are the worst. You don’t want the government to tell you what to do, but you want the church to tell others what to do. You’re pro-life, but pro death-penalty. You don’t want contraceptives, but no abortions either. You want unfit parents to have children they can not afford, yet want to cut social funds that would help these people. Then you want to punish the people who knew they couldn’t raise a baby for not raising their baby. You are a confused and scary group.

I wish I knew where to give credit to on this. I think its an important message that a sizeable portion of the population would get behind.

Awhile back, I saw another comment on some article that declared we so-called moderates lack the intellectual horse-power to actually grasp any of the social issues of our time. Strange, then, how the stronger your critical thinking skills are, the more you gravitate toward the middle. Generally speaking I see both points the left and right make on any issue. Neither side is without its merits, or its fallacies. Often they are simply extremes of one another, billed as the only two possible choices that could be made. As Worf would tell you, there are almost always other options. If a Klingon can figure that out, what’s your excuse? Hubris will only delay solving the complex social issues undermining the very fabric of our society. Try some humility instead. (It tastes like chicken.)

I fully uphold the inherent right of each and every individual to shape their destiny in accordance with the tenants of their beliefs (religious and secular). I also fully uphold the inherent right of each and every individual to reconcile their religions beliefs with their secular beliefs how they see fit. So if you don’t believe in contraceptives, don’t use them. Do not think yourself so hallowed, however, that you can make that decision for anyone but yourself. You can not maintain a society of equals whilst simultaneously upholding that your belief is any more or less valid than the next persons. I reject such disparity between people, and much blood has been spilt in support of that ideal.

There is a lot of inconclusive info out there about coffee, but study upon study supports that its not all bad for your health.

For starters, its the highest source of anti-oxidants in the American diet. This isn’t really saying much. There are richer sources of anti-oxidants than coffee that we could ingest, but when you average out what Americans are putting in their gut… coffee is the number one source based, on average, of what is actually getting put in our mouths.

Lots of people drink coffee, and it does provide us with anti-oxidants, so that’s why.

Of course it also dehydrates us.

But now research suggests, but doesn’t conclusively show, that it may also help shield us from Alzheimer’s.

Coffee isn’t all good for you, but based on a number of studies that have highlighted it as a positive variable in several health-related conditions, it would seem that moderate intake on a regular basis is, on the whole, quite possibly a good thing.

Guess I might want to rethink my current daily limit. Now if I can just get the people here at work to stop brewing these watered-down monstrosities… seriously folks.. the amount of coffee you’re putting in there is sufficient for roughly half the water capacity of the carafes we’re using. You need two of those packets, or to hit the half-pot button instead. (Yes, I’ve become something of a coffee snob.)

A shocking report prepared by Russia’s Federal Atomic Energy Agency (FAAE) on information provided to them by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) states that the Obama regime has ordered a “total and complete” news blackout relating to any information regarding the near catastrophic meltdown of the Fort Calhoun Nuclear Power Plant located in Nebraska.

According to this report, the Fort Calhoun Nuclear Plant suffered a “catastrophic loss of cooling” to one of its idle spent fuel rod pools on 7 June after this plant was deluged with water caused by the historic flooding of the Missouri River which resulted in a fire causing the Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) to issue a “no-fly ban” over the area.

Located about 20 minutes outside downtown Omaha, the largest city in Nebraska, the Fort Calhoun Nuclear Plant is owned by Omaha Public Power District (OPPD) who on their website denies their plant is at a “Level 4” emergency by stating: “This terminology is not accurate, and is not how emergencies at nuclear power plants are classified.”

Russian atomic scientists in this FAAE report, however, say that this OPPD statement is an “outright falsehood” as all nuclear plants in the world operate under the guidelines of the International Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale (INES) which clearly states the “events” occurring at the Fort Calhoun Nuclear Power Plant do, indeed, put it in the “Level 4” emergency category of an “accident with local consequences” thus making this one of the worst nuclear accidents in US history.

Though this report confirms independent readings in the United States of “negligible release of nuclear gasses” related to this accident it warns that by the Obama regimes censoring of this event for “political purposes” it risks a “serious blowback” from the American public should they gain knowledge of this being hidden from them. Interesting to note about this event was the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Chief, Gregory B. Jaczko, blasting the Obama regime just days before the near meltdown of the Fort Calhoun Nuclear Power Plant by declaring that “the policy of not enforcing most fire code violations at dozens of nuclear plants is “unacceptable” and has tied the hands of NRC inspectors.”

This report further notes that the “cover-up” of this nuclear disaster by President Obama is being based on his “fantasy” of creating so-called green jobs which he (strangely) includes nuclear power into as his efforts to bankrupt the US coal industry proceed at a record breaking pace.

Unknown to the American people about Obama’s “war” on the US coal industry is it’s estimated to cost them over a 60% increase in their electricity bills by 2014 and cause over 250,000 jobs to be lost in an already beleaguered economy.

More ominous for those American people whose lives depend on the coal industry that is being deliberately destroyed is the Obama regime’s massive “security exercise” currently ongoing in the major coal mining States of Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia, and as we can read about, in part, as reported by InfoWars.Com: “If you’re still living under the delusion that the TSA is just restricted to airports then think again. A joint VIPR “security exercise” involving military personnel has Transportation Security Administration workers covering 5,000 miles and three states, illustrating once again how the TSA is turning into a literal occupying army for domestic repression in America.

The TSA, in alliance with a whole host of federal, state, local agencies as well as military personnel, is currently conducting a massive “security exercise” throughout Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia.

“The participating teams are composed of a variety of TSA assets including federal air marshals, canine teams, inspectors and bomb appraisal officers. They will be joined by state and local law enforcement officials to supplement existing resources, provide detection and response capabilities. The exercise will utilize multiple airborne assets, including Blackhawk helicopters and fixed wing aircraft as well as waterborne and surface teams,” reports the Marietta Times.

Although the exercise is couched in serious rhetoric about preparedness, it relates to “no specific threat” and the details are nebulous to say the least and seems to revolve around little else than testing out high-tech surveillance equipment and reminding Americans who their bosses are.”

Obama’s fears of the American people turning against nuclear power, should its true dangers be known, appear to be valid as both Germany and Italy (whose people, unlike the Americans, have been told the truth) have turned against it after the disaster in Japan and vowed to close all of their atomic plants.

Perhaps even more sadly for the American people is this report stating that the Obama regime is “walking in lockstep” with Japan in their attempts to keep the truth of nuclear accidents from their citizens; which in the case of the Japanese can only be labeled as horrific as new evidence points to them knowing within hours of the Great Tsunami that their atomic reactors had melted down, but have only today ordered an evacuation of pregnant women from what are called “radiation hotspots.”

With a country that some scientists are now warning may soon become uninhabitable due to radiation damage, and with reports of mutant rabbits and radioactive whales now being reported, one wonders if in knowing the truth the American people would really want to follow Japan’s “example” instead of those people in Germany and Italy?

But, with an already documented 35% increase in the infant mortality rate for American mothers living in the western coastal regions of the US caused by radiation blowing onto them from Japan being ignored by these people there doesn’t seem to be much hope for them. (The EU Times)

Well I assume they are Americans… certainly seems consistent with how I’m starting to regard my fellow American… (with disgust and disdain).

I consume a lot of news from the interwebs… and its all too popular to comment on news articles these days.

I know, already, most are in pretty poor taste and most that are posting seem to be intellectually stunted.

Today, however, takes the cake.

This article about a British woman who was on holiday in Spain, went into a Chinese grocery store, and then got stabbed in the back and beheaded by some guy who proceeded to flee the scene with her head…

Its an atrocity that should rightly horrify people… Of the 133 comments on there, most include a cheap joke…if not being entirely just a cheap joke. What’s truly disgusting, though, is that the top-rated comments depend on who ‘liked’ it. (Stupid Facebook Era).

Its rather appalling to me that two of those three top comments, where people ‘liked’ it to stardom, are nothing more than a cheap joke… “He wanted to get ahead” kind of humor. Frakking classless, tasteless, and a few more colorful words I’ll not taint my blog with.

I’m not laughing. It isn’t funny. Then the poor sap trying to defend it… ‘my initial reaction was one of horror and disgust… but since its so far away and doesn’t really affect me, using humor to get through it isn’t so bad.’

What the hell does distance or personal relation have to do with it? If the humor were being used as a coping mechanism, I might be more forgiving. There isn’t anything in the comment to suggest that is the case, however… so no… no forgiveness… I’m not big on judgment either, but occasionally will acknowledge righteous judgment.

That poor woman had loved ones. The jokes are insensitive and just plain cruel… which I guess is rapidly becoming the American Way. Those are our values now… to be disgusting pigs who should actively seek out new lows to stoop too.

I’m not big on censorship, but I do think that when you’re afforded certain rights, like that of free expression, that they come with certain responsibilities.

Then again, mankind is often the least human thing in the universe.

Consider me outraged.

At least, however, a few good people contrast the majority… and this comment puts it well:

Given the ability of people anywhere in the world to read the comments left here, I hope that this poor woman’s spouse, children or family members don’t. Those of you who think this murder is "funny" HAVE your heads, but a fat lot of good they do you.

The jist… Carson City, my state Capital, has found a better means of dealing with the feral cat population than simply putting them down, while also dealing with a problem that would otherwise strain our state budget already further.

Pretty much how I feel about the phone too…. remember.. my cell phone is for my convenience in calling out when I need to… not for your convenience in reaching me whenever you darn well please. 🙂

Not that I really mind phone calls… but the reason I don’t place many is that I prefer to relegate the telephone to simply conveying critical information from one party to another. Same with texting. Neither suit me for actual conversation. Which is why I go silent once it becomes clear the texting isn’t to ask a question, but to occupy your bored mind. If its chit-chat you want, come on over and talk to me in person. :) Just call ahead.

The second to last paragraph is the most telling…

Telephones were first sold exclusively for business purposes and only later as a kind of practical device for the home. Husbands could phone wives when traveling on business, and wives could order their groceries delivered. Almost immediately, however, people began using the telephone for social interactions. “The phone companies tried to stop that for about 30 years because it was considered improper usage,” Dr. Fischer said.

Microsoft has announced there will be no new Zune models in the future. They’re shifting focus towards other devices. Why? demand just isn’t there. (Couldn’t imagine why…. maybe using those video game partners for your Xbox business to sell it… but not actually putting a device into the hands of the people you’re counting on to push your product had something to do with it…)

Can’t say I’m surprised. Let me be clear. I love my Zune. Its a GREAT mp3 player. I hate the Zune software. Version 4 has come a long way from the debut version, but its still following along some of the same strange decisions made in the Windows Media software. Let’s face it, Windows Media 9 was the last good one that Microsoft had, and Windows Media Player has never been great.

Really, the software is just unnecessary. I’m already running Microsoft Windows, which comes with Windows Media Player. The Zune Marketplace should be a store accessible from that (or any other) media management software… without any stand-alone software to manage your collection (in two places).

That Zune and Windows never played better together is appalling. Personally, I take it as a sign that Chief Software Architect Bill Gates, and his successor in that role, utterly failed at that particular job. It was supposed to be about bringing consistency and streamlining Microsoft’s product offerings so there wasn’t two things that did the same thing, competing against each other on the desktop. Yet we have Windows Media Player that doesn’t recognize a Zune and the Zune software that doesn’t recognize anything but a Zune.

No wonder Steve Ballmer opted to not hire a new one when the latest retired. Unfortunately it is, as a former drone of that collective, a job that is very much needed, and very much needed to be done far better than Bill Gates himself managed to do.

I remember when the Zune first arrived in our office. My coworker had picked hers up and of course the first thing she wanted to know… “Why do I need seperate software?”

We talked. The Zune is a neat little machine. But as is typical with any entry Microsoft makes into a new market… its debut launch is something that is rather unremarkable. The only thing remarkable about the Zune launch? It actually matched iPod features. At least the one iPod version that it was aimed at directly competing against. (Apple had some fancier versions out that did a few things more.) Microsoft didn’t leave key features out like they do with other new markets they are trying to get into (Copy/Paste on Windows Phone 7, for example). They even had something iPods didn’t (and I still think don’t)… which was the Zune Social piece. Its nifty to send your friend a track wirelessly to try before they buy, but I had to strongly disagree with my colleague. It was, itself, not a compelling enough feature. I’ve never actually used it.

I never did buy a Zune. Got one for free from the company in one of the many little morale-driving parties they do. But I love it. Its a great device that has served me extremely well, and I have no plans to ditch it for something else. Well, I was thinking of a higher capacity Zune, one of the new ones with the touch screen.

Maybe I shall. Prices might come down now that its basically going end-of-life. I expect the Zune service to stick around indefinitely. Its powering all of Microsoft’s music offerings…

Which brings me back to the Zune software. Again, why? Its infected my Xbox 360, and as soon as I realized what had happened in the update… well let’s just say it is the sole factor on why I don’t bother downloading anymore game videos or trailers, etc. It used to be when things were done downloading, I could go out to the My Videos page on my dashboard, locate the video I wanted, click play and watch it come up.

Now I have to wait while the Zune software loads, try and hunt down my Xbox marketplace downloads, and play it through there. Additional clicks I don’t need. Why can’t it just play on my Xbox natively like it used to?

Love the Zune itself. Find the Zune Marketplace more than adequate. HATE the PC-side software. Okay well, I hate version 4 a whole lot less than version 1. Its workable. The UI on the Zune itself is actually pretty neat, and the basis of the new Windows Phone 7 UI.

It’s a sad thing because this is one of those very rare hardware products where Microsoft actually has something descent. Maybe there was one compelling feature– you weren’t locked into iTunes. Sure the Zune marketplace was/is a big focus for the Zune, but I personally can attest that it does not care one bit where the music came from. It happily accepts things I download from Amazon, as well as the extensive media library that was pre-existing (I’m at about half a terabyte of music these days.)

Snagged the following from Joe Mallozzi’s blog… very heart-wrenching. this young girl is behind a radiation barrier, evidentially “reaching out to almost touch her dog on the other side.”

Silly as it may sound, my first thoughts in any type of disaster like this is about my own dogs… We’re trying to get them trained to evacuate at the sound of the fire alarm… but there are just things they can’t cope with. Breaks my heart that other Leia’s out there may be cut off from their people, exposed to the elements, scared and hungry.

The American Humane Association has a relief fund established for rescuing animals affected by the disaster in Japan. You can donate through the link above.

Alternately, you can text PROTECT to 85944 to make a $10 donation.

Here is some information from the AHA in relation to community readyness for a disaster. We secure ourselves, we secure our children, but do we secure our pets?

Your pet needs you even more when disaster strikes

When disaster strikes a community, essential services like water are often unavailable. So what can you do to ensure your pet is cared for during and, especially after, a disaster?

Preparation for pets

Keep your pets’ vaccinations up-to-date.

Know where your pets can go whether it’s a friend or family member, pet-friendly hotel, animal shelter, or boarding facility.

Place your contact information, including the name of an out-of-state contact on your pets’ ID tags, microchip registrations, and licenses.

Have on hand portable carriers large enough for your pets to stand and turn around in.

Prepare a first-aid kit, including your vet contact information and an authorization to treat your pets.

Gather any relief plans developed by your local Red Cross chapter; emergency management office; or police, fire, health, wildlife and agriculture departments so you know where to turn for specific resources.

Stryse Adds: Include your pets in any home-evacuation planning. Rehearse it regularly. work to get them to evacuate on queue so that you aren’t trying to coax them out from under a bed when disaster strikes.

Preparation for livestock

Post emergency contact numbers at your barn or on your pasture fence.

Have sufficient transportation available for all your livestock or know where to obtain it. Train your livestock how to board the vehicles.

Create a list of neighbors within a 100-mile radius of your home who would be willing to board your livestock if you are forced to evacuate.

Form agreements with neighboring ranches and farms to help each other with disaster preparation and evacuations.

Know organizations in your area that are prepared to rescue and house displaced livestock.

Involve your family and neighbors in establishing an evacuation plan for animals in barns and outlying buildings.

Have a supply of feed at a separate location, which could be air-dropped if the animals become stranded.

Make up a kit with leads, halters, equine and bovine first aid kits, quieting hoods for easy transport, and water.

Keep photos and a copy of your ownership papers or brands with you at all times in case you are separated from your livestock.